ADAMANA, Ariz. — One track of BNSF’s Southern Transcon main line is expected to reopen today (Thursday, Dec. 21) through Adamana at approximately 7 a.m. local time following a Wednesday derailment, according to a customer service update by the railroad. No estimate has yet been determined to reopen the second track through the site.
One engine and 21 cars of a freight train derailed at the site on Wednesday morning, blocking both mains and disrupting Amtrak’s Southwest Chief [see “BNSF train derails in Arizona,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 20, 2023].
Passengers appear to have been bused around the derailment Wednesday, with trains turned at Winslow, Ariz., and Albuquerque, N.M. The eastbound train that departed Los Angeles on Tuesday night was, as 8 a.m. CST today, operating 8 hours behind schedule as of its departure from Lamar, Colo., and was reported to be stopped west of Garden City, Kan., due to congestion. The westbound train delayed by the derailment is reportedly to be slightly more than an hour behind schedule. Wednesday night’s eastbound departure from Los Angeles left as scheduled and is slated to reach the derailment scene after the projected reopening of the first rack.
BNSF places the accident scene about 21 miles east of Sun Valley, Ariz.
Amtrak’s Southwest Chief shares BNSF freight traffic east of La Junta, CO into Kansas. West from there to its connection with NM’s Rail Runner north of Albuquerque it is the sole user with the exception of an occasional BNSF ballast/work train.
“stopped west of Garden City, Kan., due to congestion” strikes me as odd since I thought the only traffic on this line was the ‘Southwest Chief.’ And maybe local freights? Explanation, anyone?